A taxi driver, who appeared to have been drinking and driving, smashed into a vehicle that had stopped for a red light at the Shirley / Mackie Street intersection around 1:30pm on Wednesday.
The female accident victim pulled to the side of the road and motioned for the taxi to follow, in order to exchange information and make a police report. Instead, the taxi driver attempted to speed off but was prevented by traffic from doing so.
The quick-thinking victim ran over to the taxi and demanded the driver’s name. The rude taxi driver refused to give the woman his name. ﾠThe victim then went to look at the registration tab on the taxi’s front windshield. ﾠAs she walked in front of the taxi, the driver put the car into gear attempting to run the victim over. ﾠAs she jumped out of the way the taxi driver sped off. ﾠBut not before the woman had written down the vehicle’s license plate number, NP-989, and the registration name of Tico Brown.
A report was made at the Wulff Road Police Station by Officer Knowles (No. 695), who immediately put out an APB on the offending vehicle. The Road Traffic Department has also been notified, as has the Taxi Union, who was happy to report that the vehicle is not among their members.
Hit and run accidents in the Bahamas have become an epidemic, rising over 250% in the past year and claiming the lives of two people so far this year alone.
The Bahamas Government and the Royal Bahamas Police Force have been criticized for not addressing this situation seriously enough. Numerous reports have been filed but aggressive follow-through is needed. Another problem occurs when a hit-and-run perpetrator is (on rare occasions) brought before the courts – nothing happens. The Bahamas court system is riddled with corruption and incompetence to the point where murderers are walking free. Hit-and-run drivers have been moved down the ladder of priorities.
It is strongly suggested that the government and the police act swiftly and decisively on this most recent matter to send a signal to the Bahamian public that activities of this sort are indeed punishable.
